Wine Doctrine
Every tasting note

Reviews

3,968 notes

2014

Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Eternity

California · Napa Valley

In theory, this was better than the 2013 version of this wine. The 2014 Eternity hit the palate with deep, dark black and red fruit. Blackberry, red raspberry, red licorice, plum, and SMOKE. The…

Reviewed 24 February 2018
2013

Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Eternity

California · Napa Valley

Even more confusing than the standard Estate Cabernet, this Eternity ping-ponged from muddled and grapey, to bitter and astringent (especially on the back end). Some red and black currant, alcohol,…

Reviewed 24 February 2018
2014

Arista Winery Pinot Noir Longbow

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Previous notes apply for the most part. A bit thin and watery on the mid-palate. Some decent black cherry core fruit, with a healthy hit of baking spice. Not much of a finish. Drink now.

Reviewed 24 February 2018
2015

III Rows Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling

Napa Valley · St. Helena

A slight improvement from the 2014 version, this 2015 displayed notes of plum, blackberry, red and black currant, and singed eucalyptus. Fruity and plummy, with a fairly vapid attack; flat and…

Reviewed 24 February 2018
2015

J. Rochioli Chardonnay Russian River Valley

Sonoma County · Russian River Valley

Ripe yellow citrus, lemon curd, yellow pear, pineapple, popcorn, vanilla bean, and almond. Fairly rich and bordering on buttery, this pulls back just in time before it becomes too much of a good…

Reviewed 24 February 2018
2014

Kata Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard

Napa Valley · St. Helena

Black and red cherry, unripe purple plum, black raspberry, red licorice, and menthol. Furry tannins that left a cat tongue feeling on the palate. A bit bitter on the finish. PnP was super high-toned,…

Reviewed 19 February 2018
2016

Maybach Family Vineyards Chardonnay Eterium

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Bright, lively, and hyper-crip flavors of yellow citrus, Asian pear, green apple, lemon oil, pumice, and hints of vanilla alcohol. A wake-you-up-in-the-morning fresh water splash attack, with bracing…

Reviewed 18 February 2018
2014

Madrone Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Sonoma County

A simple delivery of red and black currant, tobacco leaf, and cedar. Light-to-medium bodied attack, flat mid-palate, no finish. Clipped, bitter, and all but totally lost on the back end. A Sling…

Reviewed 17 February 2018
2014

Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon

California · Napa Valley

...Always gotta be somebody who waltzes in with a Caymus Cab strapped to his hip, slinging it out like a white peacock everyone can't wait to feast their eyes on....

Reviewed 17 February 2018
2014

Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Martinez Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

Previous notes apply. This continues to kick out beautiful dark, black fruit, black raspberry, black currant, dark chocolate, espresso, scorched earth, and dark spice flavors. Seemingly a little…

Reviewed 17 February 2018
2014

Realm Cellars The Bard

California · Napa Valley

Starting to come around a bit better; slowly but surely. Previous notes apply; some nice black core fruit, with bitter chocolate, dark roast coffee, sweet oak vanilla char, blueberry, and some earthy…

Reviewed 17 February 2018
2015

Alpha Omega Proprietary Red Wine Napa Valley

California · Napa Valley

Black and red currant, black cherry, wood, subtle spice, and alcohol. Fairly thin overall mid-palate. Finish was abrupt and simple. 87-88 points.

Reviewed 17 February 2018
2008

Quixote Petite Sirah Helmet of Mambrino

Napa Valley · Stags Leap District

Funky and earthy notes of wild blackberry, plum, railroad tie, camphor, black tar, black wet cedar, soil, and some limestone. A hint of barnyard and Mary Jane on the back end, taking a bit away from…

Reviewed 16 February 2018
2012

Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

A solid showing, especially after having a number of the most recent Janzen wines and being very impressed overall with their displays of flavor and solid representations of their respective sites.…

Reviewed 15 February 2018
2014

L'Aventure The Sibling

Central Coast · Paso Robles Willow Creek District

A pleasant surprise with this wine. Notes of black and red raspberry, red cherry, kirsch, red licorice, garrigue, and hints of chalky limestone. Medium-bodied and a littler linear on the back end,…

Reviewed 14 February 2018
2010

Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

California · Napa Valley

Hot damn! When I'm in the mood for a good PS, I look no further than a SBR PS. This 2010 is singing beautifully. Power and grace, depth and flavor...What a fun ride of a wine. Deeply pitched…

Reviewed 13 February 2018
2012

Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Drinking very nicely, with traditional KB notes of saturated black raspberry, red cherry, cola, earth, and spice. Don't wait too long on these, as air started to flatten out the flavors a little too…

Reviewed 12 February 2018
2013

Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Booth Bella Oaks

Napa Valley · Rutherford

Biting black cherry, red and black currant, and asphalt. A flat, stinging mid-palate wards off any real depth of flavor. Finish is completely clipped. After two hours of air in the glass, it showed…

Reviewed 11 February 2018
NV

Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé

California · North Coast

Easy-going notes of frothy watermelon, pink grapefruit, orange rind, and dough. A little yeasty and overly carbonated, but a decent enough conversation sipper nonetheless. Short and somewhat clipped…

Reviewed 10 February 2018
2013

Bevan Cellars Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Central Coast · Sta. Rita Hills

Previous notes apply. Big and brash, thick and chewy, sappy and slutty. Even too much for my blood. I found myself having to tolerate it more than enjoying it. 91 points if taking the "style…

Reviewed 10 February 2018
2015

Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

California · Napa Valley

Previous notes apply. A lot of Amarena black cherry syrup, viscous cassis, and fresh vanilla bean notes dripping from this wine. It took a couple of hours to settle down a bit. PnP was a bit cloying,…

Reviewed 10 February 2018
2013

Buccella Merlot

California · Napa Valley

Man I give up trying to gauge these Buccellas... Some of my previous bottles were awesome. The last bottle I had in December was a wreck. This bottle was fantastic. The December bottle was perhaps…

Reviewed 10 February 2018
2014

Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Sonoma County · Sonoma Coast

Pleasant and giving, with ripe lemon curd, popcorn, and vanilla flavors. A touch simple, but kicking out just the right amount of flavor. Purity of fruit is notable, especially given the QPR. Love it…

Reviewed 10 February 2018
2014

Arrow & Branch

California · Napa Valley

High-toned red berry fruit, with notes of black and red currant, red and black cherry, cassis, limestone, spice, and some alcohol. The fruit had a lot of drive initially, but was clipped by hits of…

Reviewed 9 February 2018